HeLix - Dossiers zur romanischen Literaturwissenschaft

Das frankophone Kanada im Fremdsprachenunterricht. Zwischen ruraler Exotik und postmoderner Transkulturalität

Marina Ortrud M. Hertrampf, Christoph Oliver Mayer — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0200

„I suppose some people still aren’t over the Plains of Abraham“? Sprach- und Kulturgrenzen zwischen ruraler Exotik und postkolonialer Transkulturalität

Ursula Reutner — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Throughout history, the linguistic boundary between English and French in Canada has been a recurring source of tension. The Battle of the Plains of Abraham marked a turning point in the continent’s linguistic landscape in favour of English, while subsequent pivotal events shifted the balance back to the benefit of French. Drawing on the film comedy Bon Cop, Bad Cop, this article explores how linguistic and cultural divides continue to resonate, often disguised as light-hearted banter. It examines the evolution of Quebec’s linguistic boundaries from concrete geographical and legal perspectives to more abstract mental dimensions. While political borders may appear relatively stable, language boundaries are shown to be fluid, multidimensional, and deeply interwoven with cultural identities. Reflecting a transcultural dynamic, these boundaries challenge static notions of identity and reveal a complex interplay of languages and cultures in contemporary Quebec.

Le français acadien « moderne » . Mise en registre et revendication du français parlé à la Baie Sainte-Marie dans la musique actuelle

Benjamin Peter — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0200

The enregisterment of the variety of French as it is spoken at St. Mary’s Bay in Nova Scotia, Canada, has traditionally been heavily focused on highlighting its “conservative” linguistic features with Standard French from France being the ideologically neutralized point of comparison. In the same vein, it has been constructed as a “purified” variety that did not show any or very few signs of the influence of English. However, younger singers and other artists oppose this specific type of its discursive construction and “modernize” the discursive variety by using a more “authentic” and “realistic” picture of what Acadian French at St. Mary’s Bay sounds like. The article analyzes the song Acadian Dream by the group Cy as an example for this new linguistic realism that intends to revalorize the variety as a whole as well as its speakers.

Das ländliche Québec als exotische Idylle und ihre postmoderne Dekonstruktion in der frankokanadischen Erzählliteratur und Ikonographie

Hans-Jürgen Lüsebrink — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0200

This article examines the representations of rural Quebec that were central to Quebec's identity consciousness in the 19th and 20th centuries, drawing on a variety of literary texts and iconographic representations in the popular genre of almanacs. The article pays particular attention to Louis Hémon's novel Maria Chapdelaine (1913) which achieved unprecedented success and embodies fundamental constituents of the roman du terroir, such as the idealization of rural life, the defence of the French language and culture, and the rejection of Americanization and Anglicization. In addition to dissenting views, as addressed in Albert Laberge's novel La Scouine (1916), the concluding section of the essay analyzes postmodern deconstructions of the myth of idyllic rural life, using the example of Gabrielle Gourdeau's novel Maria Chapdelaine ou le Paradis retrouvé (1992).

Das ,andere‘ Québec. Literarische Stimmen frankokanadischer Autochthoner im Französischunterricht

Marina Ortrud M. Hertrampf — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0200

The article deals with Francophone indigenous literature in Quebec and explores its potential use in French language teaching. After a brief introduction to the indigenous peoples of Quebec and a short overview of the literary activities of French-writing authors of indigenous origin, the short stories "Les couleurs de la peau" by Jean Sioui and "Tshinanu" by Naomi Fontaine are presented and discussed in terms of their didactic potential. It also shows that the two text examples can be linked to different topics in the joint Abitur exam pool developed by the IQB and KMK for the federal states and are therefore particularly suitable for upper secondary school teaching.

Diversité und bande dessinée. "Magasin général" (Loisel & Tripp) im Spannungsfeld zwischen frankophoner Tradition und postkolonialer Anerkennung in Québec

Christoph Vatter — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0200

The comic series Magasin général (2006–2014) is one of Québec’s most successful bandes dessinées. At first glance, this seems surprising; as the work celebrates the image of a pre-industrial, idyllic rural Québec populated by eccentric characters, at a time when the French-speaking Canadian province has long seen itself as an open society characterised by transculturalism and diversity. The analysis of the albums explores this (apparent) contradiction and highlights how this rather traditional image offers points of connection for a contemporary understanding of diversity and intercultural openness. Finally, in a postcolonial reading of the work, the proposed avenues for cultural identification are critically examined and connections to current social challenges in Quebec are highlighted, particularly with regard to the recognition of Indigenous perspectives.

Tahani Rached. Politischer Dokumentarfilm in Québec im Spannungsfeld von Transnationalität und lokalem Engagement

Dagmar Schmelzer — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0200

The documentaries by Egyptian-Quebecois director Tahani Rached, mostly funded by the National Film Board / Office national du film, combine a transnational reference to social space with local engagement. They address migration, social work and inequality. Her portraits, which are close to her subjects, allow them to have a voice and actively contribute to their self-empowerment. Based on an analysis of the films Les Voleurs de job (1980) and Haïti (Québec) (1985), this article shows how Rached inscribes the experiences of migrants into existing Quebec self-narratives, thereby shifting them transculturally. Rached’s films are also suitable for teaching in schools, as they offer authentic, motivating content that promotes intercultural skills and media literacy. They are available free of charge on the NFB platform.